ACUM (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers in Israel) is a non-profit copyright collective that administers the rights of authors, composers, and music publishers in Israel. Founded in 1936 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, ACUM collects and distributes royalties for public performance, mechanical reproduction, broadcasting, and digital use of musical works on behalf of its 10,000+ members.
How ACUM Works
ACUM issues licenses to anyone who uses music publicly in Israel. This includes radio and television broadcasters, streaming platforms, live concert venues, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, tourist buses, and even kibbutzim where live music is performed. License fees are collected and distributed to members based on detailed usage reports and monitoring data.
The organization operates under the oversight of the Israel Antitrust Authority, which has designated ACUM as a monopoly in the market for copyright management. This means ACUM's licensing arrangements are subject to review and approval by the Antitrust Tribunal, with periodic renewals that require transparency in revenue reporting and artist compensation.
Membership is free. There are no dues. To qualify, artists must be active in literature or music and have their works used publicly. ACUM provides copyright protection, collective licensing, royalty collection, and legal advice to its members. Since 2004, ACUM also licenses musical works for commercial use online, following an Israel Supreme Court ruling in its favor.
Through CISAC membership, ACUM has reciprocal agreements with 98 affiliated societies worldwide. This means ACUM collects royalties for foreign works performed in Israel, and foreign societies collect royalties for Israeli works performed abroad.
Real-World Example
An Israeli composer registers 30 songs with ACUM. A Tel Aviv radio station plays 5 of those songs in a given quarter, a streaming platform reports 50,000 streams of 10 songs, and three restaurants hold blanket licenses that cover background music performances. ACUM collects royalties from all three sources and distributes them to the composer based on the frequency and type of use.
In 2008, ACUM reported collecting NIS 76 million (approximately $20 million USD at the time) in royalties for its members, a 28% increase over the previous year. The organization's total revenue was NIS 99.4 million. These figures demonstrate the scale of royalty collection possible through a centralized licensing system in a single national market.
ACUM also hosts the annual ACUM Awards, which started in 1958 as a small anonymous competition and has grown into a major event offering prizes across literature, classical music, and popular music. The lifetime achievement award includes a $10,000 cash prize.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
If you are an Israeli songwriter, composer, or publisher, ACUM membership is the only practical way to collect performance royalties for your works. Without ACUM, you would need to individually license every radio station, venue, and platform that plays your music in Israel, which is not feasible.
Joining is free, but you must have works that are used publicly to qualify. Once registered, ACUM tracks performances across all licensed sources and pays you based on actual usage. If your music is played internationally, ACUM's reciprocal agreements with 98 foreign societies mean those societies collect on your behalf and remit to ACUM for distribution to you.
For non-Israeli artists, ACUM still matters. If your music is performed in Israel (on Israeli radio, in Israeli venues, or on Israeli streaming services), your PRO collects from ACUM through reciprocal agreements. Ensure your works are properly registered with your home PRO so they can claim from ACUM.
PRO Comparison Table
| Feature | ACUM | ASCAP | BMI | PRS for Music | SACEM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Territory | Israel | United States | United States | United Kingdom | France |
| Join fee | Free | $50 (writers) | Free | 100 GBP (writers), 200 GBP (publishers) | 155 EUR (writers) |
| Overhead rate | Up to 22% (mechanical), 20% (performance and broadcast), 15% (internet and cellular), plus 3.5% cultural fund | ~10 to 12% | ~10 to 12% | ~10 to 12% | ~12 to 15% |
| Distribution frequency | 4 times per year (Feb 1, May 1, Aug 1, Nov 1) | Quarterly | Quarterly | 4 distributions per year | 4 distributions per year |
| Reciprocal agreements | 120 agreements with 82 sister societies | CISAC member with worldwide network | CISAC member with worldwide network | CISAC member with worldwide network | CISAC member with worldwide network |
| Members | ~14,000 | 900,000+ | 1.2 million+ | 160,000+ | 180,000+ |
Territory Covered
ACUM collects performing and mechanical rights royalties exclusively within Israel. The organization licenses music users operating inside Israeli borders, including radio and television broadcasters, streaming platforms, live concert venues, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, tourist buses, cinemas, and kibbutzim. ACUM represents over 1 million Israeli and foreign works registered in its database.
For royalties generated outside Israel, ACUM relies on its 120 reciprocal agreements with 82 sister societies worldwide. Major partners include ASCAP and BMI (United States), PRS for Music (United Kingdom), GEMA (Germany), SACEM (France), SIAE (Italy), and BUMA/STEMRA (Netherlands). Through these agreements, ACUM represents millions of foreign authors and publishers within Israel.
How to Join ACUM
Step 1: Verify Eligibility
- You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Israel whose work has been published or printed.
- Alternatively, you can be a successor to an author, a person to whom an author transferred copyrights, or a music publisher expressing a desire to join ACUM.
- Your works must be used publicly (on radio, television, in venues, or online) to generate royalty income.
Step 2: Submit Membership Application
- Contact ACUM through its official website or by email at info@acum.org.il.
- Submit a membership application with your personal details and information about your creative works.
- Provide a list of your compositions, including titles, co-writer information, and publisher shares.
- Membership is free. There are no dues or application fees.
Step 3: Register Your Works
- After admission, register each composition in ACUM's system with correct metadata.
- Include ISRC codes, ISWC numbers, and split sheets for accurate royalty matching.
- ACUM uses this data to match usage reports from broadcasters, streaming platforms, and venues to your compositions.
- You can receive royalties retroactively for periods before your registration, typically for radio and television broadcasts from the 6 months prior to your registration date.
Required Documents
- Membership application form
- List of creative works with titles and co-writer information
- For publishers: publishing contracts and company registration documents
- Proof of Israeli citizenship or permanent residency (for authors)
Membership Fees and Overhead Rate
Fees
- Joining fee: None. Membership is free.
- Annual membership fee: None. ACUM operates as a non-profit organization.
- Work registration fee: None.
Overhead Rate
ACUM's administrative deductions are capped by the Israel Antitrust Authority. The maximum expense rates deducted from members' royalties vary by revenue source:
- Mechanical rights: Up to 22%
- Public performances and broadcasting: Up to 20%
- Internet and cellular services: Up to 15%
In addition, ACUM deducts 3.5% for the Social and Cultural Fund, reduced from a previous 10% rate by board decision. This fund supports cultural initiatives, member welfare programs, and the annual ACUM Awards. ACUM does not generate profit for shareholders. Any surplus is distributed to rights holders or allocated to cultural and social programs.
Royalty Distribution Schedule
ACUM distributes royalties four times per year on fixed dates: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. The distribution schedule by revenue source:
| Distribution date | Revenue sources covered |
|---|---|
| February 1 | Radio and television (months 7 to 12 of preceding year), sale of discs (first half of preceding year), public performances (preceding year), cellular services (months 7 to 9 of preceding year), internet (preceding year), overseas royalties, books and booklets, individual concerts and events |
| May 1 | Complements of earlier distributions, radio and television (months 1 to 6 of current year), sale of discs (second half of preceding year), cellular services (months 10 to 12 of preceding year), overseas royalties, books and booklets, individual concerts and events |
| August 1 | Radio and television (months 1 to 6 of current year), cellular services (months 1 to 3 of current year), overseas royalties, books and booklets, individual concerts and events |
| November 1 | Cable and satellite (first half of current year), cellular services (months 4 to 6 of current year), overseas royalties, books and booklets, individual concerts and events |
Cable and satellite broadcasting royalties for the preceding year are distributed once annually, with the date varying.
Reciprocal Agreements with Foreign Societies
ACUM is a member of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) and BIEM (Bureau International des Societes Gerant les Droits d'Enregistrement et de Reproduction Mecanique). Through these memberships, ACUM holds 120 reciprocal agreements with 82 sister societies worldwide.
Major reciprocal partners include:
- ASCAP and BMI (United States): Major international partners
- PRS for Music (United Kingdom): European partner
- GEMA (Germany): European partner
- SACEM (France): European partner
- SIAE (Italy): European partner
- BUMA/STEMRA (Netherlands): European partner
- JASRAC (Japan): Asian partner
- SOCAN (Canada): North American partner
- APRA AMCOS (Australia and New Zealand): Oceania partner
Through these agreements, ACUM collects royalties for foreign works performed in Israel, and foreign societies collect royalties for Israeli works performed abroad. ACUM represents the majority of the international repertoire within Israel alongside its Israeli catalog.
Notable Members
ACUM's membership spans composers, lyricists, poets, arrangers, and music publishers. Several notable figures have been associated with ACUM since its founding:
- Naomi Shemer (1930 to 2004): Songwriter and composer. Known as the "first lady of Israeli song." Wrote "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" (Jerusalem of Gold), regarded as a second national anthem. ACUM member throughout her career. (Wikipedia)
- Moshe Vilensky (1910 to 1997): Composer and pianist. Co-founder of ACUM in 1936. Wrote over 1,500 songs including "Kalaniyot" and "Hora Mamtera." Received the Israel Prize in 1983. (Wikipedia)
- Sasha Argov (1914 to 1995): Composer. Composed over 1,000 songs to the words of Israeli poets. Received the ACUM prize in 1982 and the Israel Prize in 1988. (National Library of Israel)
- Yoni Rechter: Composer, pianist, singer, and arranger. Member of Kaveret (Poogy). Composed "Atur Mitzchech," repeatedly voted the most popular Israeli song of all time. Collaborated with Arik Einstein, Gidi Gov, and Yehudit Ravitz. (Official site)
- Doron Medalie (born 1977): Songwriter, composer, and artistic director. Co-wrote "Toy," performed by Netta Barzilai, which won the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. Won 3 ACUM awards. Directed the Israeli Music Awards (ACUM) for over 15 years. (Wikipedia)
- Keren Peles (born 1979): Singer-songwriter and musician. Won the ACUM Award twice, in 2018 and 2022. Wrote songs for Miri Mesika and Shiri Maimon. Released six studio albums. (Wikipedia)
- Shlomi Shabat: Singer-songwriter. Won the ACUM Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024/25. Known for songs including "Aba" and "Bereshit Olam."
- Leah Goldberg (1911 to 1970): Poet, author, and literary scholar. Co-founder of ACUM. One of Israel's most celebrated poets. (Wikipedia)
Video Guides
Similar PROs
- ASCAP - United States performing rights organization
- BMI - United States performing rights organization
- PRS for Music - United Kingdom performing rights organization
- SACEM - France's performing rights organization
- GEMA - Germany's performing rights organization
- SIAE - Italy's performing rights organization
- Full PRO Directory - Browse all performing rights organizations
Related Resources
- Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
- Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
- Mechanical Royalties - How mechanical royalties work alongside performance royalties
- Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
- Copyright - The legal framework behind royalty collection
- ACUM Official Website - Visit ACUM for membership and licensing information
- Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings
